Revelation 3:18
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Study Note
Study Note
Christ's counsel to the Laodicean church — 'I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see' — directly inverts the city's celebrated products: gold banking, dark wool, and eye salve. The theological irony is sharp: the city that prided itself on material sufficiency ('I need nothing,' verse 17) is addressed by Christ who offers the genuine version of everything the city falsely claimed to supply. The three items — refined gold (true wealth), white garments (righteousness), eye salve (spiritual perception) — correspond to the three lacks implied by 'wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked' (verse 17). The letter demonstrates Revelation's pervasive use of local historical context as a vehicle for universal spiritual address.
Other Translations
I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.
I counsel thee to buy from me gold fired by fire, that thou mayest be rich, and white garments that thou mayest be arrayed, and the shame of thy nakedness may not be manifest, and with eye-salve anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.
If you are wise you will get from me gold tested by fire, so that you may have true wealth; and white robes to put on, so that your shame may not be seen; and oil for your eyes, so that you may see.
Cross References
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and …
Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet …
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with …
Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may appear.
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach …
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen …
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and …
And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence …
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou …